21 Simple Yet Effective Ways To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Houston Homes
Are Spiders Dangerous In Houston Homes?
Here in Houston, spider infestation is a year-round threat, and as a local homeowner, you should know what you’re up against. These eight-legged arthropods are common in the area, in fact, there are almost 900 different species of spiders in Texas alone. That’s a lot of spiders trying to get into your home.
You may be wondering what brought spiders into your home, to begin with, and that’s a good question. The truth is there are a variety of spider attractants drawing these unwelcome visitors into your Houston home. Unlike other pests who seek warmth and shelter in your home, spiders come into your home to find food.
Spiders feed on insects and common indoor pests, meaning most insects in your home provide them with a suitable food source. Some of the most common insects spiders feed on include crickets, grasshoppers, ants, flies, earwigs, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fleas, and moths. As spiders hunt and follow their prey, they end up in all kinds of buildings, meaning your Houston home is vulnerable to infestation.
Spiders are usually found in secluded areas with ample humidity like basements, closets, and pantries. Other common spider harborage spots include garages, attics, sheds, eaves, storage spaces, crawlspaces, and cabinets. They prefer dark, damp spaces where insects might lay their eggs. Any conditions conducive to insects are conducive to spiders, which is why they’re drawn to moisture.
To prevent spiders from infesting your home, it’s crucial to prevent insect activity. Reducing your exposure to other insects eliminates their food source, meaning spiders have no real reason to come around. That’s why you should be mindful of any populations of flies, mosquitoes, roaches, beetles, and other small insects around your property. Where these pests go, spiders follow.
Common Houston Spiders
Most spiders we encounter in our homes aren't dangerous, but that doesn’t mean they’re welcome. Spiders can still bite when provoked, and even though most species aren’t venomous, it’s still an unpleasant experience you should avoid. Some of the more common spider species in the area include crab spiders, ground spiders, jumping spiders, orb weavers, and wolf spiders.
Crab Spiders
Named after the way they move like a crab, using their back legs to walk sideways
Uses their large crab-like front legs to grasp their prey
Doesn’t use webs to catch their prey like many other spider species
Camouflages to look like the environment they’re in
Stays hidden until prey approaches, and then they emerge from their camouflage and attack
Ground Spiders
This classification of spider encompasses a broad spectrum of individual species.
Appearance depends on their specific species.
Produces silk through barrel-shaped spinets on their bodies
Creates webs to trap their prey like many other spider species
Aggressively hunts their prey, chasing them along the ground as fast as they can
Jumping Spiders
Dull-colored spiders that can vary between black, tan, brown, or gray
Tend to have pale white markings throughout their body and legs
Despite their dull coloring, male’s body can glisten in the sunlight
Compact body and can grow to be between 1/8th and ¾ of an inch long
Eight short, powerful legs that allow them to jump 25 times their own size
Orb Weaver Spiders
Most common group of spiders, known for their intricately woven, wheel-shaped webs
Appearance can vary greatly depending on the specific species.
Spiny-backed orb weavers are the most common species found in the Houston area.
Resembles a crab, with a distinct red spine protruding from the edge of the female’s abdomen
Has a yellowish abdomen has black spots on it, and their legs are black
Males of the species are gray with black spots; don’t have large spines like the female
Adults spiny-backed orb weavers grow to be between ¼ and ½ of an inch long
Wolf Spiders
Black or dark brown with camouflage type, yellow-striped markings on their body
Males grow to be between ¼ - ¾ of an inch, while females grow to be 3/8 to 1 3/8th of an inch long.
Robust, stout bodies covered in hair, and eight eyes placed in three distinct rows
The bottom row of eyes has four, the middle row has two, and the top row has two.
Eight, spiny long legs that are fast and powerful enough to jump and chase their prey
Nocturnal pests that hunt during the night and early morning to feed on insects and crop pests
While most spider species are no real cause for concern, there are some venomous species that pose more of a threat. Black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders are dangerous species that inject poisonous venom into their prey when they bite. The reactions can be pretty severe, which is why it’s important to rely on professional spider control services. Read on to learn more about black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Black Widow Spiders
Prefer to hang out in remote areas with minimal human activity
Females are black with a red spot located on their abdomen
Males of the species have a brown coloration, and they rarely emerge
Neurotoxic venom that can affect your nerves and nerve tissues
Bite leaves a pinprick in your skin and can lead to a number of symptoms
Symptoms include muscle aches, cramping, fever, abdominal pain, sweating, etc.
Brown Recluse Spiders
Also called “fiddleback” spiders because of the violin-shaped marking on their back
Range in color from light tan to dark brown and their legs are covered in short hairs.
Small in size; measuring around ½ to 1 inch long
Hidden in dark areas like attics, closets, and cabinets, basements, and piles of clothing
Cytotoxic venom, which can cause skin tissue decay eaves painful marks
Venom cause holes in your skin/body and may require skin grafts
The best way to protect yourself from local area spiders is to reach out to the pros for help. Modern Pest Control offers complete pest control for homes and businesses, and that includes treatment for local Texas spiders. Our process starts with a thorough inspection to determine what type of spider is infesting. Based on our findings, we will develop a plan of action that gets rid of spiders!
21 Spider Prevention Tips For Houston Homeowners
Many homeowners ask us how they can control spiders in their homes, and the truth is it’s not easy. As spiders continue to sneak through small cracks and crevices and spread their populations, the problem can grow larger and larger. The best approach is to get ahead of the problem and stop it from occurring in the first place.
There are a number of things you can do to prevent spiders and the pests they feed on from entering your home. These tips encourage you to exclude points of entry and eliminate conducive conditions. Here are 21 ways to prevent spider infestation:
Cover any vents or openings with mesh insect screens.
Dispose of vacuum bags in a trash bin with a fitted lid after vacuuming webs, etc.
Examine weather stripping and replace if damaged.
Get rid of spider webs and egg sacs from inside the house using a vacuum.
Install door sweeps and screens for windows and doors.
Keep other bugs away, like cockroaches, earwigs, mosquitoes, flies, fleas, moths, etc.
Keep plants, trash, and mulch from touching your home.
Keep the exterior/porch lights off and replace outside bulbs with yellow, insect-resistant bulbs.
Keep vegetation well-trimmed (at least five feet from the home).
Keep your home clean and free of clutter.
Maintain proper drainage and reduce excess moisture in and around your home.
Reduce clutter and thoroughly dust, sweep, vacuum on a regular basis.
Remove easily accessible food sources and keep trash in tightly sealed containers.
Remove weeds and debris from your property.
Repair your foundation and use weather stripping around the perimeter of your home.
Replace any broken window or door screens, and any chipping windows and door frames.
Shake out your shoes, clothing, towels, and linens to eliminate spider hiding spots.
Store firewood outdoors away from the house; eliminate damp or rotting wood.
Store food and belongings in tightly sealed plastic containers.
Use caulk or foam to seal up any cracks and crevices that insects and spiders can enter through.
Use cedar mulch, cedar hangers, cedar chests, cedar shavings, cedar blocks, etc.
No matter how hard you try, spider control isn’t easy to do on your own. How can you even tell if there are spiders in your home? These intrusive pests can easily gain entry into Houston homes, and when they do, they gravitate towards dark, remote areas where they lay their eggs. Looking in these places is a good place to start. They can often be found in garages, attics, crawlspaces, and basements. Check all screens and door sweeps, and check for any cracks and crevices around your structure.
Even if you remain diligent about checking for webs and active spiders, the truth is it can be really difficult to detect and treat a spider infestation. If you want to secure year-round protection from spider activity, the smartest approach is to rely on pest professionals. Contact Modern Pest Control today to discuss your spider control and prevention needs. We offer customizable treatments plans that are tailor-made to suit your needs, your budget, and your schedule.
If you’re looking for efficient and effective spider solutions for your Spring home, Modern Pest Control is your best bet. Since 1952, our independently owned and operated company has functioned on the following philosophy: To deliver prompt, personalized pest control using the industry’s latest pest control strategies and methods.
All of our pest management professionals undergo rigorous training because bringing you the absolute best pest control is our number one goal. We are proud to be Quality Pro Service providers, and we’re fully licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. With over 70 years of experience in the pest control industry, you can count on us to bring you the lasting results you’re looking for.
We’re here to help identify, eliminate, and prevent spider activity in your home. No matter the nature of your spider infestation, we provide innovative pest control strategies to resolve pest problems quickly and effectively. We are proud to provide the latest, most advanced pest control strategies and methods around, remaining committed to IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies that our valued customers can rely on.
With our effective spider solutions for your Spring home, you can protect yourself from the nightmare of infestation. We’re familiar with local area species, and we have decades of experience dealing with them. Our spider control process includes:
Inspection - A thorough walk-through and inspection of both the interior and exterior of your home is completed. We will determine areas where spiders are active, as well as any conducive conditions and potential entry points. After that, we develop a customized treatment strategy to tackle your spider problem effectively.
Service - We’ll treat your home interior and the perimeter of your structure to eliminate insect activity and the spider activity that follows. Our treatments are developed to cater to your needs, whatever those needs may be.
Follow Up - We offer ongoing pest control services to make sure your Houston home is protected from spider infestation all throughout the year. Our service technicians are here to bring you superb customer service and lasting results.
Contact us today for more information about our spider control services in Greater Houston. Not only do we guarantee pest-free conditions, but we’ll come back for free re-service should a pest problem occur between scheduled service visits. Our spider control process is thorough and strategically targeted to solve your pest problem from start to finish.
Reach out to us today to request your free inspection, and we will set up your initial inspection as soon as possible. We’ll walk you through the entire process and provide you with an honest quote for our services. After that, we can get your inspection on the calendar and get you on the road to a spider-free and overall pest-free future!